THE LEGEND AND HISTORY OF LAKE HÉVÍZ

Lake Hévíz is one of the world’s unique natural lakes, a true wonder of the town and of Hungary. According to the legend, Virgin Mary made the water flow onto the surface from the depths of the earth in order to heal a paralyzed child by the welling-up hot water and the steaming mud. Consequently, due to the natural healing effects of the spring, the child recovered and later became an Eastern Roman Emperor known as Flavius Theodosius.

For that reason, based on the legend the curative effects of Lake Hévíz were already known by the Romans. This is demonstrated by certain coins from the lake dated back to that time period, which were found by divers in the beginning of the 1980s, as well as by an altar stone found near the lake.

Migration Period discoveries also suggest that the Germanic and Slavic populations turned up here and used the lake. The first written record of Hévíz was found in a charter of 1328.

The formation of the lake can be traced back to ancient times. At the end of the Pannon Period, named after its sea, volcanoes broke the surface of Transdanubia. The first signs of post-volcanic activities were wilderness and the break-out of the ancient Hévíz spring. During the movement of the Earth’s crust, two ditch systems were formed, where rainfall was collected. Lake Balaton got its shape this way about 22 thousand years ago, which marked the beginning of the history of Hévíz Thermal Lake too. The warmth radiated by from the deeper layers of the Earth’s crust heats up the groundwater gathered into the underground storage system formed during the Pannon Period, thus the water of the lake is heated by geothermal energy.

The traditional therapy of Hévíz, in its present sense, also has a more than 200 years old history. Ferenc Szláby, who was a physicist and the chief medical officer in County Zala, published the first study about the lake in 1769. The Festetics Family, who took possession of the spring and its surrounding area in the middle of the 18th century, played a significant role in developing and popularizing the baths. Mainly, Count George Festetics I made the bathing culture flourish, he built up the bathhouses with determination.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE THERMAL BATH

The thermal lake of Hévíz awaits its visitors all year round. It’s a perfect destination for those who wish to relax and want be healed. An admission ticket must be purchased to enter the lake bath. An indoor bathing area was already built on Lake Hévíz in the 1700s with the intention of allowing patients to bathe in the winter or in case of bad weather. Today’s indoor baths give place to medicinal treatments and a wellness section.

Our indoor SPA offers complex cure packages built on balneotherapy, which can be used following a medical consultation. The therapies and treatments of the medical specialists working in Hévíz are world-famous and are proved to have effective results in curing rheumatic and musculoskeletal complaints. There are 9 indoor pools – with various diagnostic units and treatment options – available at the Therapy Centre.

In the pools with 32-38 ⁰C water, physiotherapy, weight bath, sitting bath and hot tub units were established, where experienced therapists, physiotherapists and masseurs provide assistance to those who want to get cured. Thanks to the medicinal water and mud of Hévíz, the treatments, in a unique way, can reduce or eliminate the symptoms of patients with rheumatic diseases for months.

THERMAL LAKE – OPENING HOURS 

 

 Opening timeClosing time
of cash-desks
End of bathing
time (lake)
End of Wellness timeClosing time
High season
29.05.2023 – 03.09.2023.
08:3018:0018:3018:3019:00

Early season /

Off season
27.03.2023 – 28.05.2023.
04.09.2023 – 08.10.2023.

9:0017:3018:0018:0018:30
Low season
01.01.2023 – 26.03.2023.
09.10.2023. – 31.03.2024.
9:0016:3017:0017:0017:30
Closing time on 24.12.2023 is at 2 p.m; on 31.12.2023. at 4 p.m.
Opening time is at 11 a.m. on 01.01.2024.
The opening hours may vary at different entrances. The operator reserve rights to change the opening hours.